starting pre-school

[MrsRV]

I'm clueless and trying to be organised for the future. I'm due to go back to work after mat leave a few weeks before DD1 starts pre-school.

do people generally take a week off to get LO's settled in to pre-school? I dont want to miss her first week!! do I?

I'm thinking about returning to work a bit earlier just so new childminder and starting pre-school dont coincide & cause DD to be too unsettled? is this a good idea?

how often and for how long do they go to pre-school for, I mean in terms of days of the week & hours?

at what age will DD go to school? her birthday is March. I know she'll be due to start pre-school the term if her 3rd birthday & this will be funded term after 3rd birthday.

help!!!

Watching closely. My ds turns three next year and is so far looked after by my mum. Want him to take the free funded places as will be good for him but have no idea where to start and starting to worry!

Some preschools only admit in September so unless you have a place lined up don't assume it will be available before then. If they do take starters at other times , she may be the only one or one of few so there may not be anything special worth staying off work for. Presumably she could settle in at cm earlier , while you are on ml then it would be less of a jump. Funding is 15 hours a week, termtime only, usually 5 am or pm sessions but you may be able to use it for 2.5 days and would start after Easter for her. What childcare do you have organised otherwise ? She'd start school (Reception) in September 2015, age 4.5 , may only be part time to begin with.

It all depends on where you live and the preschool in question OP...in terms of hours I mean. My DD went for two full days because it was very good at bending the hours to suit the parents...as long as the hours were my allotted amount, I could choose them. Other parents sent their DC in for 4 or 5 mornings...in terms of settling in, some take to it like a duck to water and others don't.

So it might be best to be off work just in case. My older DD was a nightmare with it but the younger just went in, handed in her forms and that was it...! I never saw her so happy.

I was in a similar position - I took the first few days off.

Sorry my reply was brief! Ds goes for 15 hours a week, five mornings a week which suited him. Have you a preschool in mind? If so, ask them about when your dd should start. Ours encouraged ds to be potty trained beforehand so something to consider too

thanks all. there's a pre-school just opposite & DD is already registered as it's mega popular so what I've said about her starting etc I know is correct.

no way we can do me on mat leave AND cm for DD as we simply can't afford it. I think for the sake of not causing DD too much upheaval I'll go back to work a month early & start baby & DD at CM. then I'll have to book a few days off for start at pre-school as I just can't miss it!

Does your DH get childcare vouchers? Or do you? That might help a bit as you still get them when on mat leave I thought.